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Abstract

Subduction zones, such as the Andean convergent margin, are the sites at
which new continental crust is generated, and where subducting material is either
recycled to the crust via arc magmatism or transferred to the deep mantle. The
composition of arc magmas and associated new continental crust reflects variable
contributions from mantle, crustal and subducted reservoirs. Insights into crustal
growth and recycling processes in the southern Central Andes, specifically in the
Pampean flat-slab segment, have been gained by utilising a range of petrological,
geochronological and geochemical techniques. These techniques have been applied
to a suite of Late Cretaceous (~73 Ma) to Late Miocene (~6 Ma) intrusive (granitoids)
and extrusive (basalts to rhyolites) arc rocks collected from an east - west transect
across the Andean Cordillera. The oxygen and hafnium isotopic composition of the
accessory mineral zircon allows mantle-derived melts contaminated with older,
upper continental crustal to be identified. Boron isotopic compositions of melt
inclusions, combined with concentrations of certain incompatible trace elements,
can be used to assess the source and influence of fluids derived from subducting
material on the melt source region. The southern Central Andes provides a
particularly interesting area to study these processes as the thickness of the
continental crust has increased significantly over the course of the Cenozoic (from
~35 km to >50 km) and the angle of the subducting Nazca plate has shallowed since
~18 Ma, causing the position of the volcanic arc to migrate to the east.
In order to unravel the complexities involved with constraining the
contributions to arc magmas at an active continental margin, a range of
geochronological, geochemical, and geothermobarometric techniques, including
high resolution, micro-analysis of mineral phases and melt inclusions, have been
applied. High resolution, U-Pb dating of magmatic zircon has improved regional
stratigraphy in the Pampean flat-slab segment (between ~29 and 32 °S) and
provided an accurate temporal constraint for geochemical and
geothermobarometric data. The results of in-situ O and Lu-Hf isotope analysis of
zircon show both distinct temporal and spatial variations across the Andean arc.
The observed isotopic variability is attributed to variable contamination of mantle-derived
melts with distinct Andean basement terranes, which vary east – west in
composition and age.
‘Mantle-like’ δ18O(zircon) values, juvenile initial ƐHf(zircon) values and a lack of
inherited, xenocrystic zircon cores, suggests the Late Cretaceous (~73 Ma) to Eocene
(~39 Ma) plutons located in the Principal Cordillera of Chile, experienced very little
interaction with the upper continental crust. Amphibole – plagioclase
geothermobarometry indicates these calc-alkaline granitoids, which form extensive
north – south trending belts, were emplaced at shallow depths in the crust (~4 – 5
km). Therefore the Late Cretaceous to Late Eocene is interpreted as a period of
significant upper crustal growth. The isotopic variability in the Late Oligocene (~26
Ma) to Late Miocene (~6 Ma) arc magmatic rocks demonstrates that during
thickening of the continental crust and migration of the Andean arc to the east, arc
magmas assimilated Late Paleozoic to Early Mesozoic basement. In addition, arc
magmas erupted/emplaced in the Argentinean Precordillera (i.e. farthest east from
the trench) assimilated a Grenville-aged (~ 1330 – 1030 Ma) basement. The youngest
arc magmas (~6 Ma) erupted in the Frontal Cordillera also show evidence for the
assimilation of this ancient basement terrane, potentially signalling under-thrusting
beneath the Frontal Cordillera. Overall, the later part of the Cenozoic represents a
period of crustal reworking.
Boron concentrations and isotope ratios measured in pyroxene hosted melt
inclusions and for the first time in zircon hosted melt inclusions, are higher than the
values expected for the mantle wedge and show significant variations with time.
The source of the Paleocene (~61 Ma) arc magmas were influenced by fluids
primarily derived from altered oceanic crust. Lower δ11B values and boron
concentrations obtained for Oligocene (25 – 23 Ma) arc magmatic rocks reflects a
diminished influence of slab-derived fluids reflecting a greater depth to the top of
the slab. Fluids derived from serpentinite influenced the source of the arc magmas
after ~19.5 Ma. This has been linked with the intersection of the Juan Fernández
Ridge, a volcanic seamount chain associated with hydrated and serpentinised
oceanic lithosphere.